Paul
Bearint

PAUL BEARINT was born in Philadelphia on March 2, 1915 to Edward Bearint and his wife Clara. The family moved to the Cramer Hill section of Camden NJ shortly after his birth, Edward Bearint finding work as a rigger in one of Camden's many shipyards. By the end of 1919 the family owned a home at 1019 North 26th Street.

Like his older brother Elwood, Paul Bearint grew up playing a lot of baseball. Elwood in his day was considered one of Camden's top players, a left-handed pitcher who could also hit and play the outfield, He was signed by Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics and sent to one of their minor league affiliates. Unfortunately, an injury to his pitching arm ended Elwood Bearint's days as a pitcher and major league prospect. He was a fixture for years in the semi-pro leagues in and around Camden, and was a member of Cramer Hill's famed Defiance Athletic Club baseball team. The 1923 Defiance team, won 32 games against only 8 losses and three ties. Younger brother Chuck Bearint played at Woodrow Wilson High School under Grover "Worm" Wearshing in 1941 and 1942. A catcher, Chuck Bearint played in the Chicago Cubs farm system after returning home from World War II.

Paul Bearint, also was well known in Camden semi-pro baseball and football. Growing up in the Cramer Hill section of Camden, he was nicknamed "Iron" where was known as one of the areas top young baseball and football players in the early 1930s. In the mid 1930s he signed with the New York Yankees and enjoyed five productive years at Bassett, Virginia in that organization's talent filled farm system. When an opening came with the parent club, it was Paul's roommate, Phil Rizzuto, who got the call to fill an infield position. He also roomed with Yogi Berra and played four seasons in the Philadelphia Athletics farm system. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s Bearint played for several South Jersey and Southeastern Pennsylvania teams. Although primarily a third baseman he could play any position, was often called on to pitch and was always a respected and powerful hitter. 

His contemporaries admired Paul Bearint as a fierce competitor, but was always a gentleman. There was little he could not do on a baseball diamond. 

By 1957 Paul Bearint had returned to Camden. Like many of his contemporaries, he still had a strong interest in baseball, and was one of the members of the "Camden Team" that played games on an irregular basis with teams from the Burlington County Hot Stove League. This team evolved into a social club called the Camden County Hot Stove League, which formed in January of 1959. Paul Bearint was one of the original members, and served as chairman during the latter part of 1959. The Hot Stove League's aim has been over year the "Promotion of High School, American Legion, Sandlot and Professional Baseball in South Jersey". In 1996 a reorganization of the club changed the name to the "Hot Stovers Baseball Club of South Jersey" and merged with the "South Jersey Baseball Hall of Fame", of which Paul Bearint was a 1989 inductee.

Paul Bearint was last a resident of Sicklerville NJ. He died on July 28, 2000. 

Paul Bearint's Minor League Record

Back row: Nary Comeau, Frank Stackwalt, Al Watson, Carl "Dutch" Hoffman, Ray Lindsey,
Leon McAmee, Bill Hawke, John Gilecki, Joe Jackson, Sam Beamer, Jim Hogan, 
Elwood Comeau, Lew Uetz, Bill Ruh, Ed Beamer, Paul Bearint (standing)
Front Row: Fred Frett, Walt Lindsey, Al Colsey, Ted Carr, Tim Stackwalt, Amos Hawk, 
"Bud" Lecates, Bob McCann

Back row: Jim McKerney, Paul Bearint, Al Comeau, Sam Beamer, Bill Jackson, Al Colsey
Lou Uetz, Pat Beneditti, Ted Grebe
Middle Row: Al Watson, Jimmy Smith, Earl Harvey, ???????, "Hoakie" Garrity, Fred Frett, 
Ed Beamer
Front Row: Charley Hansen, Bill Ruh, George Norton, Bernard "Bun" McKerney, Amos Hawk,
Jack Uhland, "Dutch" Hoffman